Mayor Rejects Trump’s Military Deployment
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed strong opposition to President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy Marines and National Guard troops in the city. In an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash, she emphasized, “I want to dispel the notion that the military is here. We don’t want them here. They don’t need them here. Our local law enforcement agencies have full control over the situation.”
On Saturday, June 7th, Trump sent additional federal vehicles, including those with Mexican flags, along with 2,000 National Guard members to Los Angeles, following protests related to immigration enforcement. This marked a significant military presence in response to the unrest during anti-ICE demonstrations.
Bass described the protests as largely peaceful, suggesting that anxiety from Trump’s immigration policies had disproportionately influenced the recent unrest. She claimed that Saturday’s protests were “overwhelmingly peaceful,” arguing that a vital segment of the local economy depends heavily on immigrant labor.
Marcos Leo, a former Army veteran apprehended by Marines while they were in restricted areas, noted that they treated him “very pretty well.” He acknowledged the stress of the situation but felt treated fairly.
In the turmoil, Bass reported that approximately 30,000 people participated in the demonstrations, with only a handful arrested and some injuries reported on both sides. She stated that had it not been for recent raids and national agitation surrounding illegal immigration, the protests would have been for entirely different reasons.
Trump’s administration has pursued widespread deportations, particularly targeting undocumented immigrants who have not committed crimes, leading to criticisms that such actions are tearing families apart while failing to consider the extensive role of migrant workers in critical sectors of the economy.
Bass remarked, “I don’t think the president understands that there is an entire sector of the economy that won’t work without migrant labor,” highlighting the complexities surrounding immigration policies.
The Trump administration has started suspending deportations at farms, hotels, and restaurants to mitigate the impact on industries vital for the U.S. economy, as reported by various sources.
